Release the app on the app store then start to email people with the link?

Email press before you release on the app store and give them a build through say TestFlight?

Or is there a way to give press a link to your app after it has been approved but before you make it go "live"?

Ideally i would like the press contacts to already have played a version and then write a review during the week of release.

I guess it should be after release so that people read the review then follow the link to the app store?

You should send out multiple emails, imo. One well before the game is released (have some promo art, maybe some early screens as long as they look good). This is like an announcement email, and again, should be sent out as soon as the game is in good enough shape to show off something. Regardless of whether you get a preview, its still good to get your foot in the door and "plant the seed" for your game.

As for emailing for reviews...

One little tip is to set your release date a good bit in the future, so that its approved and ready to go but not released on the App Store yet... this way you will have promo codes, and you can send them out to reviewers BEFORE the game is even out. Tell them your release date, give them a promo, and ask for a review. Do this maybe a week before launch (I have no hard data on this, but you want to give them enough time to play the game before launch, but not so much time that they forget about the game).

Another reason you may want to set a specific release date is so you can do your best to drive as much interest as you can to that one specific launch day... from reviews, to fans and potential buyers - you want to make as big a splash as you can on day 1. You can't do that if you can't tell people up front when your game is coming out...

Anyway, after the game is out, I'd send another email the day of, announcing that it has hit the app store, with another offer to give out any promos if anyone is interested.

I know it may seem like a lot, but you can't be shy about trying to get your name out there. Reviewers have to sift through a lot of stuff every day, so one extra email might be just enough for them to remember your game. At the very least you don't want to end up saying "Crap... I wish I did more" because once your game is released, its released and its already too late.

One common mistake developers make is to rush their app onto the market. Sometimes the best move is to wait to release your app until you have the PR in place. Also, just a thought, we think that it makes sense to improve your app's web presence. The app stores alone can limit the amount and quality of promotional material you want to include: http://blog.apptopia.com/5-reasons-y...line-presence/

About Us

"TouchArcade covers the latest games and apps for Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch. We are the largest site dedicated
to iPhone and iPod Touch gaming."

Promotional Codes

While we now accept iTunes Promotional Codes for games, we can't guarantee that your app will be reviewed or covered. Only one promotion code is required. Feel free to send promo codes to tips@toucharcade.com.

While we appreciate the promo codes, notable app pre-announcements and preview copies are also of interest to our readers. Please feel free to contact us at the same email address about these opportunities.

Note: we rarely (if ever) solicit developers directly for promo codes. If you receive such an email, please contact us.

Advertising

We have advertising opportunities available to iPhone and iPod Touch developers. If interested, please contact us at ads@toucharcade.com.

Press Contact

We welcome news releases, previews, screenshots and video links for existing or upcoming iPhone and iPod Games. We can't promise a personal reply but we do try to evaluate every title submitted. Please send press releases or general inquiries to tips@toucharcade.com.